Computer Support Network

Video sharing sites like Youtube and Google Video have become second nature and trusted by all web 2.0 users. The last two weeks has broken this trust, however, as Google Video have been targeted by blackhat SEO campaign operators. The site has been put to use to spread malware using Google’s own search engine rank algorithms against themselves. Because this method of infiltration is a new development in malware distribution it is very import to understand what it is and how it happened.

The current exploit has targeted over 400,000 search queries. The hijacked videos direct site visitors to adult oriented websites which deliver malware through hidden downloads. The reason why the number of targets phrases is so high is because instead of targeting obvious keywords the scammers have piggybacked their content on legitimate videos. This is where the problem becomes severe; as with all content on video sharing websites the more visitors the higher the placement. The result is a self reinforcing problem; the more viewers, the more malware distributed, the higher the placement in Google.

Because it may not be possible to tell a legitimate video from malware infected clip it is important to understand how the malware gets onto your computer. When the video is clicked the user is redirected to a secondary domain. This website closely resembles Youtube in design so it is important to pay attention to the URL. From here the user is given a popup message that states, “Your Flash Version is too old. Your browser cannot play this file. Click “OK” to download and install update for Flash Video Player”. If the user accepts the malware (AutoTDSS.BNA!worm) is downloaded and must be removed manually.

At the time of writing this Google is aware of the problem and looks to create a solution but the exact timeframe is not known. The thing to keep in mind is that because content on video sharing websites is supplied by normal users there is no guarantee that content will be secure. Google and Youtube have always provided good moderation to their websites but it’s inevitable that things slip through the cracks. The best defense is to be aware of abnormal behavior when you visit such websites. If you do run into suspicious activity contact the site administrator as soon as possible.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department

When Google released the beta version of Google Chrome earlier this year it was received with a mixed reception. The browser that had been announced as faster and more secure then either Firefox or Internet Explorer proved instead to be little more than a cosmetic alternative. Now however, Google is ramping up its Chrome promotion campaign by cutting default stature from Firefox.

Until recently Firefox had been the default browser selected as part of the Google Pack. For those unfamiliar with it, the Google pack is a set of productivity applications that Google packages for users. The package includes applications such as Spyware Doctor, Picasa, Adobe Reader, Google Earth, Norton Security Scan, and now Google Chrome. Advanced users won’t likely be bothered by the need to select one extra option. Casual users on the other hand are unlikely to go through the extra trouble, and will accept whatever is given to them by default. Additionally, Google has also removed all of the Firefox promotions that used to be included in Google Properties. Mozilla Firefox is depended on Google as their main source of income so if Google continues to aggressively oppose Firefox the company could find themselves in economic hardship.

A second part of the Google Chrome campaign is actually set to put Internet Explorer in more damage than Firefox. Google reportedly plans to sign a deal starting in 2009 which would have computer manufactures preinstall Google Chrome as the default browser on computers. It has long been acknowledged that casual users will remain with whatever default internet browser is installed on their computer. This is primary factor in why Internet Explorer remains the most used Internet Browser despite numerous superior alternatives. A distributer for the deal hasn’t been announced but if it ends up being a partnership with a computer giant such as Dell, this could upset the current browser war into Google’s favor.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department

Microsoft Office has been the gold standard for business productivity software for more then a decade but Google is once against taking strides to stand out against convention. As most people know Google has become more than just a search engine. One of their many branches has been developing web based productivity tools. Not wanting to lose ground in an online marketplace, Microsoft has recently released new versions of SharePoint and Exchange. To understand the rivalry it’s important to understand which each company has to offer.

The promise of Google Docs is that it is a self contained writing, spreadsheet and presentation tool that can be accessed from anywhere. The mobility factor of being able to access all of your saved documents from any computer with an internet connection has been one of Google’s prime features. The fact that the software is web based means that there is no setup time and no question of compatibility from version to version.

Microsoft has seen this potential and have been releasing online versions of their software. In the case of Microsoft the strategy is slightly different; stressing “software-plus-services” instead of pure web based applications. Microsoft is also offering the option of hosting the software for businesses on their own proprietary servers or to allow businesses to host on their own. This last point brings up one of the biggest detractors of the Google based applications.

Businesses are reliant on productivity software to plan and catalogue private data vital to the survival of the company. With the Google solution, all of this information is contained on servers outside of the security of the client company. This creates two potential problems: First, is the question of possible information theft. As it stands now only the login process of Google Docs is secure, leaving integral data vulnerable to attack. Secondly, being as the data is hosted on Google hosted servers there is no direct backup or failsafe if the Google servers are down.

Until both services can be offered on company side servers it is not advisable for businesses to adopt either productivity solution. Regardless, it will be interesting to see what new developments the Microsoft-Google rivalry spawns in the coming months.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department

Chrome Beta 3 arrived recently to the fanfare of Google aficionados but few others. What is Chrome you might ask? Well for the uninitiated its Google’s news web foray; a proprietary internet browser that they had hoped would surpass IE and Firefox in user base. The promise behind Chrome stems primarily from its pedigree. The Google search engine took the world by storm and has grown to become an everyday household term. Google had hoped to do the same for web browsers.

So have they succeeded? Not quite. When the first Chrome Beta was released they held a respectable portion of the market share but since then users have actually dwindled. Currently Google Chrome has now settled into a holding pattern around 0.7 percent browser market share. The biggest problem facing Chrome is that there is already a competitor doing what they intend. Within the last five years, Firefox has quite literally taken the internet by storm.

As it stands now Chrome is the fastest browser on the market. Chrome is also secure, easy to use and attractive looking. But as for new killer features Chrome has very little to offer. Firefox already has the security, functionality, and higher degree of customization than any other browser on the marketplace. Also, looking at time frame, Firefox overtook Internet Explorer in functionality years ago but did not come close to matching its market share until quite recently. As a secure and reliable platform most people simply don’t see a reason to switch browsers. For this reason it is unlikely that Chrome will make any great leaps in its market share. It is not a bad product; just that for most users, there is no reason to upgrade from something that already works.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department

As many people already know Google is the king of online search tools; what people may not know is how high above the competition their crown sits. Recent findings based on a sample of 10 million U.S. Internet users states that Google holds a massive 70% hold on all searches in America. Google’s supremacy has been on the rise for quite a few years leaving previous giants like Yahoo and MSN to fall towards obscurity. Yahoo currently setting at only 20% of the market share, has been dropping in popularity at a rate of .3% a month for the past year. Rounding out the top four you have Microsoft with 6% and Ask.com with a 4% of the market share.

What does this mean for you? Well first of roughly 80% of all online business is driven by Organic Searches. Pay-per-click services WILL get you traffic but tests have shown that the majority of web viewers will avoid paid search links purely on the basis that they know people are trying to sell to them. Since most of your customers will find you through an Organic Search and Google holds 70% of the organics search market it is absolutely critical that you website is optimized for Google searches. This is not to say you should ignore optimization for all other browsers; 30% of your possible customers are a lot to just ignore. What it DOES mean is that you should find the best way to appease both search engines.

Search Engine Optimization is becoming a larger and larger part of the business world and with it is an increasing stress to make your website SEO compliant. Through proper optimization it becomes possible to create free advertising for your website and drives customers to you. Google has changed the way business is done on the web and with it changed the world. If you want to be a part of it you will need to embrace the changes.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department